June 6, 1921

Comrade Lezava*

The affairs of the Commissariat of Foreign Trade are in a dreadful state.

While you were ill, Krasin tried out his weak point once again: excessive self-confidence, bordering sometimes on outright adventurism. "It'll all work out for me, I always succeed." He has this little trait.

And despite his "good luck" and dexterity, and ability, and cleverness, I cannot vouch that sooner or later he won't run into a major scandal and a spectacular downfall because of this.

This cannot continue. Krasin was here, saw that you were ill, and did nothing.

They left Voikov alone, who is plainly unsuitable, or rather: cannot cope.

At the Council of Labor and Defense on June 3, matters reached near collapse⁹. The Council of Labor and Defense on March 23, 1921 resolved that the People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade was obliged to deliver 7 million [rubles] in gold to the South-Eastern Economic Council by April 15.

Nothing has been done. Voikov refers to alleged statements he heard from Krasin to the effect that one cannot trade with Constantinople; it's supposedly full of swindlers there.

If Krasin said such a thing, then Krasin will someday be brought to trial for it. Krasin was obliged to either strictly implement the Council of Labor and Defense resolution of March 25, or to submit to the Central Committee a proposal to repeal that Council of Labor and Defense resolution, or to satisfy the South-Eastern Economic Council in another way, not through Constantinople (this relying on "good luck").

He did neither one thing, nor another, nor a third. Krasin violates the law and tears apart all the work. This cannot continue.

I ask you:

1) Send a copy of this (or the original) to Krasin.

2) Speak in person with Frumkin and Khinchuk.

3) Check in person the implementation of Council of Labor and Defense decisions, not relying on Voikov.

4) Think seriously about replacing Voikov with Taratuta or Paikesin or whoever you want, a capable and conscientious man.

Concerning Serebrovskii and Baku, I am now extremely fearful that the People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade will repeat the history of the South-Eastern [Council].